All the OFSC News You Need To Know (To Date) To Be Ride Ready This Winter!
(Barrie, ON – November 12, 2020): Since August, the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) has shared a ton of information through our website, Facebook page and newsletters. Our communications focused on evolving developments affecting trail riding for this winter, in addition to news about the early permit sales program.
Now, with growing anticipation among new and returning snowmobilers to hit the snow, a brief recap and progress reminder about trail developments may be helpful to put everything that’s happening in context as we get closer to winter. We hope this update will also answer any questions those who may have missed our regular communications still might have.
August 11 – High Level Plans for Upcoming Ontario Snowmobile Season: Articulates our big picture goals for season preparation. 1. To deliver the best possible trail riding experiences for snowmobilers. and 2. To ensure the health and safety of its volunteers, landowners and riders for the coming snowmobile season. Also introduces new strategies currently under development to be reported in later releases (see below).
August 27 – OFSC Invests in Groomers for Better Trails This Winter: Speaks to our comprehensive provincial fleet management strategy, which focuses on optimizing the effectiveness and efficiency of one of the world’s largest trail groomer fleets for the coming winter, including millions of dollars for new groomers (also see October 15 investment update).
September 17 – OFSC Takes Driver Training 100% Online For 2020-21: In order to continue the program without interruption and for the health & safety of students, we are offering Driver Training courses are online only for the 2020-21 season – click here to register today!
September 24 – OFSC Committed To Providing Trails To Ride This Winter: Introduces Trails To Ride 2021 plan (including Flex Trails) for getting trail preparations and operations underway this fall for the provincial trail system to achieve our top priority of having trails ready to groom as soon as snow conditions allow (see also October 22 Flex Trails release).
October 8 – OFSC Health & Safety Plan Protects Volunteers, Landowners, Communities & Riders: Introduces the most progressive pandemic response plan among Canadian trail user groups to ensure the health and safety of everyone working on, riding on or depending on OFSC trails, including the snowbelt communities, hospitality providers and residents that serve OFSC trails.
October 15 – OFSC Update On Groomer Investment for 2021 Season: Provides new progress details on groomer purchases, refurbishments and reallocations since the August 27 release.
October 22 – OFSC Updates Snowmobilers On Flex Trails & Recent Pandemic Developments: Addresses the benefits of Flex Trails and how they work, using real world examples from Modified Stage 2 Regions (now classified as RESTRICT/ORANGE under the new Ontario COVID-19 Response Framework announced November 3, 2020).
October 29 – OFSC Ride Planning & Trail Navigation Tools for 2021 Season: Reports on ride planning and trail navigation tools for the coming season, including the Interactive Trail Guide, Go Snowmobiling App, TrakMaps for Garmin GPS, and district trail guides.
November 5 – OFSC Launches Ride Smart 2021 For Safe & Healthy Snowmobiling: Introduces Ride Smart 2021, a common sense approach to help snowmobilers work together to keep the fun happening on our trails this winter.
The OFSC is pleased to reconfirm that we remain very confident of delivering lots of snowmobile trails to ride this winter. We are also encouraged by the more optimistic and targeted approach of the new Ontario COVID-19 Response Framework announced November 3, 2020, which provides better opportunities for hospitality services to remain open this winter. Meanwhile, snowmobilers can count on us to continue to communicate the latest news and updates for safe and healthy trail riding as we work together to make the winter of 2021 the best possible experience for everyone.
The Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) is a volunteer led, not for profit association that provides the voice for organized snowmobiling in Ontario. OFSC snowmobile trails managed by 200 community based, member clubs generate up to $3.3 billion in economic activity in the province each year.
